SMCHS Newsletter
SMCHS NEWSLETTER
November 29, 2023
Upcoming Events
Thursday, November 30: Mass @9:21am
Friday, December 1: First Friday Mass @7:25am | Adoration
Saturday, December 2: VEX Tournament @Menasha High School
Monday, December 4: JV Math Meet @Oshkosh West
Tuesday, December 5: Spirit Wear Day
Wednesday, December 6: Blood Drive | Christkindlmarket Field Trip
Friday, December 8: Holy Day Mass @10:43am
Saturday, December 9: VEX Tournament @Neenah High School
Wednesday, December 13: Junior Planning Night
Holy Day Mass - December 8 - Dress Your Best!
Friday, December 8 we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in our school Mass. We will communicate to students via email and announcements that dressing their best for Mass is strongly recommended. This means to dress according to our dress code OR BETTER. Absolutely NO relaxed wear will be allowed tomorrow.
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Fundraiser
Once again, SMCHS has partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a national nonprofit that raises funds for children living in poverty and are in need of a bed. All donations go to the building and delivery of beds in our community! The recipients are also given a mattress, a pillow, sheets, and a comforter. The SHP nonprofit has delivered 250 beds in the Appleton/Menasha area in the last year.
For every $200 donated, the SMCHS community will be granted a pajama casual dress day. We will be collecting money UNTIL FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8. Our goal is to raise $1000 and be casual for a week. Parents can send the donation through the office or with their child.
Zephyrs Fine Arts
Band
Please join us in congratulating Gabriel Groom, John Osland, and Alex Walsh who were selected for the Big East Conference Honors Band which will perform at 6:30pm on Thursday, January 4 at 6:30pm at the Capitol Civic Centre in Manitowoc. Contact Mrs. Barnhill at pbarnhill@smcatholicschools.org for further information.
St. Mary's Singers
Senior Activities - Save the Dates!
Senior Awards - May 8 evening
Baccalaureate Mass - May 23 daytime
Graduation - May 24 evening
Shop the Spirit Stop for Christmas
Check out the Spirit Stop today for all your Zephyrs gear needs! Order Spirit wear now for Christmas gifts, as there is a two week turnaround time for most products.
If your student qualifies for free and reduced lunch, you are eligible for a Spirit Stop discount. Please reach out to David Diedrick at ddiedrick@smcatholicschools.org for more information.
As the Spirit Stop evolves and all the wrinkles are smoothed out, we will be adding more products, styles and sizes. If you have an idea for a design, feel free to contact Liz Uhlenbrauck at luhlenbrauck@smcatholicschools.org.
Junior Planning Night
Juniors and their parents are highly encouraged to attend Junior Planning Night on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00pm in the Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center. The evening will begin with information to include course registration, transcripts, PreAct or PSAT test results, service hours, and detailed post-secondary planning information.
Next families may choose to attend up to three of the twenty-minute sessions being offered from the following presenters:
- University of Wisconsin System
- Private Colleges
- Technical Colleges
- Military
- Youth Apprenticeships
- Q&A with Mrs. Castagna & Mr. Post
2024-25 Course Registration
Current Juniors - December 18 & 19
Current Sophomores - December 20 & 21
Current Freshmen - January 4 & 5
Arrangements will be made with students who are absent.
Zephyrs Athletics
Volunteering for Athletic Events
Volunteering at our home high school athletic events is mandatory for families that have students participating in sports. Families are required to help fill five volunteer spots per student-athlete, per co-curricular athletic activity (to a maximum of 20 spots per family annually).
High School Winter Sport Volunteer Sign Up
EVERY high school student is also required to take one shift of volunteer time during the 2023-2024 school year. Students may sign up for more than one shift.
Counseling News
College / Military Visits
Northern Michigan University - Thursday, December 7 @10:00am
College Bound Students - Create Your FAFSA ID Now
While we wait for new information about when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) will be available, now is the perfect time to get your FSA ID so you will be ready to complete and submit the FAFSA® when it becomes available. An FSA ID is a username and password that is required to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education (ED) websites. To create your FSA ID, click here. Additional information can be found here.
Midwest College Showcase
This virtual event will help students learn more about 27 small Midwest private residential colleges.
Thursday, November 30 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Free Help Completing the FAFSA
College Goal Wisconsin has announced dates and locations for their free FAFSA workshops. Use this link to register and find our what materials you need to bring with you.
Badger State
Each summer SMC selects one boy and one girl from the junior class to attend Badger Girls State and Badger Boys State. Held in the summer, these programs offer students the chance to run for political offices and experience how our government operates. Students who attend Girls State will have the opportunity to apply for 4 scholarships during their senior year of high school. Students who attend Boys State will receive $1,000 off college tuition if they are accepted, and plan to attend, UW-Eau Claire, which is the host sight for BBS. A google form will be sent to juniors in mid-December.
Scholarships
Naviance > Colleges > Scholarship Search lists multiple scholarships available to students in grades 9-12. Contact Mrs. Hall at chall@smcatholicschools.org or Mrs. Castagna at jcastagna@smcatholicschools.org with any questions.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Fall Preview Events
Friday, December 1 – Health Science Titan Preview
NHS Tutoring
SMC's National Honor Society students offer free tutoring for students in grades 9-12. Use this link to sign up.
University of Wisconsin System Updates
- Applications: Students may apply at apply.wisconsin.edu.
- FAFSA: Will not be available until December or January. More information can be found here.
- Application fees for all UW system schools can be found here.
ACT Test Prep Resources
- Booklets outside School Counseling Office
- Public Library
- Free - study guide, online events, and practice tests can be found here.
- Free Online Practice Tests at Khan Academy Test Prep and Quizlet
- ACT Online Prep™ Interactive program developed by the makers of the ACT Test
- Fox Valley ACT Test Prep Seminar Four day intensive classes (next one December 4-7)
- UW Stevent Point Virtual ACT Prep Course February 3, 2024
- UW Oshkosh ACT Prep - In-Person or Online
- UW Oshkosh SAT/ACT Online Test Prep
- ZAPS ACT Test Prep Seminar
December Lunch Menu
Here is a link to the December Lunch Menu. We appreciate your understanding if substitutions need to be made.
Discipleship Digest
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be watchful! Be alert!’” (Mark 13:33) To be any use as a lookout, you need a different perspective. Fire towers once stood high above national forests and parks. They were essential for spotting plumes of smoke before a wildfire really got out of control. Today drones and satellite imagery have made towers largely obsolete, but they stand as a powerful symbol of vigilance and readiness.
Jesus calls each of us to be a “lookout” in this season of Advent. It is our time to recall that the Lord can – and does – show up at any moment. We reflect not just on the birth of Jesus, but on the ways
God reveals himself in even the most ordinary moments. And we join all of creation in anticipation, waiting for the fulfillment and redemption that only comes from the Lord.
Marvel today with Isaiah: “No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such
deeds for those who wait for him. Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were
mindful of you in our ways!” (64:3-4) What are you waiting for this Advent season? How can
you be more mindful of the Holy Spirit, prompting you to generosity, or to be more present and
aware of those around you? Climb above the busy-ness for a moment and find a new
perspective!
Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
SMCS News
Volunteeers Needed!
Volunteers are needed for the St. Nick Social at St. Gabriel Parish on Sunday, December 10. Help the kiddos with games, prizes and a cake walk. Plus everyone's favorite - set up and clean up. Check out the open spots on Sign Up Genius and sign up on, or before, December 3. Thank you.
SMCS Alumni Tennis Open
Join us for the first annual SMCS Alumni Tennis Open on December 27, from 1-4pm at Fox Cities Racquet Club! All tennis team alumni and current players are welcome! Register here by December 8th. The cost is $20 and includes a t-shirt and court fees. Any overage will be donated to the SMCS tennis program. We hope to see you there!
Digital Citizenship Resources for Family Engagement
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your child succeed. That includes teaching them how to use technology responsibly and safely. In today's digital world, that can be a challenge - that's where Common Sense Education comes in.
Common Sense Education is a non-profit organization that provides resources for parents and educators on how to help children thrive in the digital age. Their website is a treasure trove of information, including:
- Age-based media and tech recommendations
- Tips for talking to kids about technology
- Family Tech Planners
- Digital citizenship lessons
- And more!
Parents should use Common Sense Education because:
- It's evidence-based. Common Sense Education's resources are based on research and best practices.
- It's comprehensive. Common Sense Education covers everything from screen time limits to cyberbullying to social media safety.
- It's engaging. Common Sense Education's resources are easy to read and understand, and they often include videos and other multimedia content.
- It's free. Common Sense Education's resources are available for free to anyone.
Check out the “Family Tips” and “Family Activities” surrounding digital citizenship using this link. Each section has engaging and age appropriate content for you and your children.
Thank you for partnering with us to raise digital citizens who are smart, safe, and successful.
Helpful Links
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcatholicschools
Instagram: www.instagram.com/smcszephyrs
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Zephyr_Sports